Dances With Wolves star Graham Greene dies aged 73

Acclaimed Indigenous actor Graham Greene, best known for his Oscar-nominated performance in Dances With Wolves, has died at the age of 73.

His representative confirmed that Greene passed away in a Toronto hospital on Monday following a long illness.

Greene rose to international fame in 1990 with his portrayal of Kicking Bird in the Kevin Costner-directed epic Dances With Wolves, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to become a trailblazer for Indigenous representation in Hollywood, opening doors for future generations of actors.

Born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada, Greene was of Oneida First Nation descent. Before pursuing acting, he worked as a welder, draftsman, and steelworker. His acting career began with a television appearance in The Great Detective (1979) and his film debut in Running Brave (1983).

Over the years, Greene built a diverse resume across film and television. His notable roles included appearances in Thunderheart (1992), The Green Mile (1999), where he played death row inmate Arlen Bitterbuck, Transamerica (2005), and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009). More recently, he featured in hit series such as Tulsa King and The Last of Us (2023), in which he portrayed Marlon.

Greene married Hillary Blackmore in 1990, and the couple shared four children. Remembered as a man of morals, ethics, and humor, Greene leaves behind a legacy that reshaped Indigenous visibility in Hollywood.

His representative reflected: “He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed.”